Alternative paths for the development of technological competencies in Portuguese industry A case study approach Ines Vaz Pinto, J030 Pedro Taborda, Francisco Veloso and Jose Rui Felizardo The authors discuss the importance of a technological infrastructure for countries with developing and transitional economies. The establishment of institutions whose purpose is to provide elements of such infrastructure is crucial to the successfuldevelopment of internationally competitive companies and to the creation of an entrepreneurial culture. In this context, the authors set out the roles, fundamental goals, and strategic vision of the Instituto Tecnotoqico para a Europa Comumtette (ITEC), an organization established by the Portuguese government to enable the development of a technological infrastructure in Portugal. This paper analyses the model represented by ITEC and offers it as a case study of a national approach to the problems raised by technological and industrial underdevelopment. The authors are with the Instituto Tecnol6gico para a Europa Comuniterie, Estrada do Peco do Lumiar, 1699 Lisbon, Portugal. Tel: +3511 7116000. Fax: +3511 7166008. The development and revamping of technological competencies in Portuguese industry are designed to enable companies to achieve sustainable competitiveness, thus helping them to innovate. At present this subject is receiving considerable attention in Portugal, supported by the Green Paper on Innovation which promotes the constant need to innovate within companies in order to maintain growth, competitiveness and employment, by rapidly transforming new ideas into technical commercial successes. 1 The problem faced throughout Europe is, according to the Green Paper, the lack of success in transforming an excellent scientific base into strong 54 technical competencies leading to new products and market shares, especially in high-technology sectors.? Promoting innovation within a national industry and developing a more sustainable innovation system capable of meeting the demands, needs and opportunities of industry to achieve a stronger international position are therefore among the roles of institutions charged with developing the technology infrastructure. Equally, one of the strongest barriers to the development of a broader understanding of the problem of innovation is the lack of a conceptual model based on an integrated vision of the different theories (individual, socio- INDUSTRY & HIGHER EDUCAnON February 1997